surfing

It’s “Hang Time” Release Day

January 16, 2018 — Leave a comment

Hard to believe that the third book in the Greg Salem punk rock P.I. trilogy is officially out in the world today. It’s been quite an adventure watching this series—including BAD CITIZEN CORPORATION (book 1) and GRIZZLY SEASON (book 2)—come to life. Thanks to Tyson Cornell and Rare Bird Books for believing in Greg and his crew, and to all of you for reading these books and helping spread the word.

Here are a few of the kind things that people have said about HANG TIME:

“Lauden’s prose zooms along with an arch energy, and the final installment in his Greg Salem trilogy (Grizzly Season, 2016, etc.) keeps the plot twists coming at warp speed.”—Kirkus Reviews

“As a rock journalist in my spare time I know the scene pretty well and Mr. Lauden just manages to convey so well how it is and feels, it’s impressive. Awesome, awesome stuff.” —Son of Spade

“The twists, turns, and shocks are enough to leave the reader gasping for more.”—Crimespree Magazine

“Addiction, isolation, punk rock and murder — all on a hot mic.”—Liam Sweeney, author of DEAD MAN’S SWITCH and WELCOME BACK JACK

“As savage, fast-paced and bleakly comic as your favorite punk rock anthem, S.W. Lauden’s HANG TIME is a wicked and fitting finale to a first-rate trilogy, packed full of both sex and violence of the no-holds-barred variety, and building to a gut-punch conclusion that’ll leave you reeling long after you’ve closed the last page.” —Owen Laukkanen, author of THE PROFESSIONALS and CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE

S.W. Lauden is the Anthony Award-nominated author of the Tommy & Shayna novellas, CROSSWISE and CROSSED BONES (Down & Out Books). His Greg Salem punk rock P.I. series includes BAD CITIZEN CORPORATION, GRIZZLY SEASON and HANG TIME (Rare Bird Books). He is also the co-host of the Writer Types podcast. Steve lives in Los Angeles.

Sometimes The Best Short Story Is A Song (#25)

October 29, 2015 — Leave a comment

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. It’s one thing to post a blog every week about songs with interesting lyrics. But to claim that a classic 60s surf instrumental falls into this category is absurd. Well, stick with me, because this isn’t just any song. It’s “The Rise and Fall of Flingel Blunt”!

I know we’ve been conditioned not to judge books by their covers, but in my opinion the title of this song says it all. This simple sentence, featuring one of the most interesting character names ever, gives us a complete piece of flash fiction. Is Flingel Blunt a surfer who gets up on a wave only to smash to the shore? Or is there a longer narrative here? One in which Mr. Blunt (or is it Mrs.?!) is a small time crook who finally gets in over his head.

In the end it’s up to your imagination. And the best part is that whatever story you create comes with a killer soundtrack.

Previous installments in this series:

S.W. Lauden’s debut mystery novel, BAD CITIZEN CORPORATION, is available now from Rare Bird Books. His novella, CROSSWISE, will be published by Down & Out Books in 2016.

Interrogation—David Rensin

September 21, 2015 — 4 Comments

Who: David Rensin

What: Author and co-author of sixteen books, seven of them New York Times bestsellers. They include: ALL FOR A FEW PERFECT WAVES, the oral/narrative biography of legendary rebel surfer Miki Dora; THE MAILROOM, an oral history of what it’s like to start at the bottom in show business reaching for the top, and DEVIL AT MY HEELS and DON’T GIVE UP, DON’T GIVE IN—both with Louis Zamperini.

Where: Ventura, CA

Interview conducted by email. Some questions and answers have been edited.

Your oral history of Miki Dora’s life, ALL FOR A FEW PERFECT WAVES, is the definitive portrait of the legendary surfer. How would you explain Miki Dora to somebody who has never heard of him before? How did your opinion of him change researching and writing the book?

Miki Dora personified the rebel heart of surfing. He was king of Malibu when that break was queen in the 50s and 60s. When the book and movie, Gidget, popularized surfing,  Malibu was overrun with newbies leaving Dora and his contemporaries pissed off at the crowds. He never got over it, and so spent his life searching for empty waves worldwide.

He was also an artistic kid from a troubled home who valued personal freedom above all else—even if he had to rip-off your surfboard or wallet to finance his desire to never have a job so that he could always surf.

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